Ballast Point Brewing Will Open New San Francisco Brewery – Close Chicago Location

Beverage Industry News» Business of Beerposted Mar 24th, 2021 10:24:28AM by Tom McCormick

Kings & Convicts Brewing Co., the San Diego-headquartered owner of Ballast Point, announced yesterday that it is moving forward with a retail expansion of the 25-year-old craft brewery into Northern California. Plans to open a brewpub in San Francisco were originally announced in 2018 but later halted in 2019 by former owner Constellation Brands prior to the sale of Ballast Point to Kings & Convicts. Ballast Point San Francisco is expected to open by the end of the year and will join the craft brewery’s five Southern California locations in San Diego, Anaheim, and Long Beach.

Kings & Convicts also announced it would permanently close its Chicago Ballast Point Kitchen and Taproom in the West Loop after careful consideration. The Illinois-born Kings & Convicts said in a statement that it remains committed to the greater Chicagoland area and is focused on projects that better align with the future of both independent breweries. This includes a continued focus on Ballast Point’s roots in San Diego and future growth in its home state.

“We love Chicago and will remain invested in the region with Kings & Convicts, but have decided it’s in the best interest of Ballast Point and its long-term success to focus on our roots in San Diego and California as a whole,” said Brendan Watters, CEO of Ballast Point and Kings & Convicts. “The ability to highlight our products in a tasting room across from a world-class entertainment facility and as part of an incredible development in San Francisco aligns well with our vision for Ballast Point.”

Ballast Point is planning to finish construction of an approximately 12,000 sf taproom and kitchen — 1,500 sf of which is outdoor patio space — in San Francisco’s Mission Bay District within walking distance of the SF Giants’ AT&T Park and the new Chase Arena, home of the Golden State Warriors.

Ballast Point San Francisco will be equipped with a 3-barrel research and development brewhouse with four, 3-barrel fermenters and two, 3-barrel brite tanks enclosed in glass for public viewing.  The taproom will offer Ballast Point beers on draft and R&D releases exclusive to the San Francisco market, as well as a full menu and wine list, growler and crowler fills, and a retail area for merchandise and packaged beer to go.